Broadband speeds 51% slower than advertised

British households are paying for broadband services that are on average 51% slower than advertised, according to new Which? analysis.

Results generated from 235,000 uses of the Which? broadband speed checker tool show that, on average, customers are paying for speeds of up to 38 megabits per second, but actually only receiving half that (19Mbps).

The research, conducted by the consumer champion ahead of new Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) guidelines coming into effect on Wednesday, reveals widespread differences between the speeds advertised and those delivered.

The results show that the faster the advertised speed, the further away it was from the actual speed recorded in tests.

For example, consumers paying for a package of up to 200Mbps were on average only able to get average speeds of 52Mbps or only 26 per cent of the speed promised.

The closest actual average speed to that reportedly advertised for “up to 50Mbps” where users received just under a third of that – an average 35 Mbps.

The new rules will mean that broadband providers can no longer advertise “up to” speeds which are available to just 10% of customers. The ASA will require, as of Wednesday, that providers include a median average speed for the service available to at least 50 per cent of households at peak time.

Which? has campaigned for these vital new guidelines to be introduced since 2013 through its Broadband Speed Guaranteed campaign.

Alex Neill, Which? Managing Director of Home Services, said:

“This change in the rules is good news for customers who have been continuously been let down by unrealistic adverts and broadband speeds that won’t ever live up to expectations.

“We know that speed and reliability of service really matter to customers and we will be keeping a close eye on providers to make sure they follow these new rules and finally deliver the service that people pay for.”